Mickle v. United States

18 S.W. 349, 6 Indian Terr. 557, 1906 Indian Terr. LEXIS 35
CourtCourt Of Appeals Of Indian Territory
DecidedNovember 24, 1906
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 18 S.W. 349 (Mickle v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court Of Appeals Of Indian Territory primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Mickle v. United States, 18 S.W. 349, 6 Indian Terr. 557, 1906 Indian Terr. LEXIS 35 (Conn. 1906).

Opinions

Townsend, J.

(after stating the facts). The appellant has filed eight assignments of error: “(1) That the verdict is contrary to law. (2) That the verdict is contrary [559]*559to the evidence. (3) That the court erred in failing to instruct the jury to return verdict for-the defendant (appellant). (4) That the court erred in permitting the prosecuting witness, Enoch Kendle, to testify to certain statements: ‘1 came home, and on my way back met Johnnie Richards, who gave 'me the information that he had seen the defendant driving, the hogs. I went back to Wilburton and had another conversation with the defendant, and told him he had got my hogs and he had to bring them back- or pay for them, and he said, all right, he would pay me for them, and said he would leave the money at the butcher shop for me. I came back, I think it was on the next day, and had a conversation with him. I told him that I had information that he had got my hogs. He said that, if I could find any man that saw him drive my hogs, he would pay me for them. He asked me the name of the party, and I refused to tell him. 1 didn’t at that time want him to know who it was. He told me that he would leave the money at the butcher shop the next day. I went to the butcher shop, but did not get the money. I went to defendant’s house and called him out and asked him why he did not have the money. He stated that he only had $10; that he would pay me that then, and pay the balance in a day or two. I told him that I would not accept it, that it had to all be paid at once.’ (5) The court erred in admitting the testimony of Enoch Kendle, as follows: ‘In a few days I went down to the butcher shop and saw Walter Mickle, the brother of the defendant, who paid me $20 in check on the Citizens’ Bank of Wilburton. The check was drawn in favor of E. L. Mickle, and indorsed on the back, “E. L. Mickle.” ’ (6) The court erred in overruling the motion of defendant for new trial on the ground of newly discovered evidence, as set forth in affidavits, to which defendant excepted. (7) The court erred in’ overruling motion for new trial for the reason that the indictment failed to show that the alleged crime was [560]*560committed in the South McAlester division of the Central district, to which defendant excepted. (8) The court erred in overruling motion for new trial.”

It will appear from the foregoing assignment of errors that not a single objection was made to the introduction of any evidence whatever, or the instructions of the court, nor an exception saved. The only exceptions taken were to the action of the court in its refusal to grant a new trial. The counsel filing the brief for appellant says: “It is proper to state, before beginning an argument, and so that our position in this cause may not be misapprehended, that counsel appearing in this brief were not of counsel, and were not- in attendance at the trial of this case in the United States Court.” Then counsel, under the first three assignments, proceeds to discuss the testimony introduced on the trial, and urges that much of it was improperly permitted to go to the jury, and was incompetent, and in his argument contends that it was insufficient to authorize a conviction, and that therefore the trial court should have directed a verdict of acquittal. Counsel cite several Kentucky cases to sustain the proposition “that the trial court, in grang its instructions to the jury, is required, without request, to give the law, the correct law, and the whole law.” But, in regard to the introduction of testimony, the same court, in Buckles vs Commonwealth (Ky.) 68 S. W. 1086, says: “It is'to be presumed that the trial court will correct an error to which its attention is called. It is to be presumed that the court will not rule erroneously, if proper objection is made. It is to be presumed, also, that the defendant acquiesces in that to which he does not object, and is satisfied with the rulings to which he does not except.”

But what do the decisions of Arkansas, whose criminal law and procedure is in force in this jurisdiction, hold? In [561]*561Carroll vs State, 45 Ark. 548, it is said: “In Benton vs State, 30 Ark. 335, one ground of the motion for new trial was: ‘The court erred in failing to read to the jury, as part of its charge, the whole law applicable to homicide, but confined itself in the charge to cases of murder in the first and second degree.’ ‘It appeared by the bill of exceptions that after the court had given the instructions asked for by the state, and nine asked for by the prisoner, being all asked on his behalf, the court of its own motion, gave a general charge to the jury. No exception appeared to have been taken to the charge given and the only objection made to it in the motion for a new trial was that it did not go far enough; that the judge did not read to the jury the whole law applicable to homicide, but such only as applies to cases of murder in the first and second degrees.’ Chief Justice English, in delivering the opinion of the court, said: ‘It is the province of the court to give 'in charge to the jury such, principles of the law as it may deem applicable to the case. If a party desires other instructions, he may move them, and the court will give or refuse them, according to its judgment of their correctness or applicability. If refused, the party asking them may except to the opinion of the court. If objected to by the opposite party, and given, he may except. So either party may except to the general charge of the court. If the charge be the enunciation of several distinct principles, either party may except to any one or more of them. If all are deemed objectionable, each and all of them may be excepted to. But the exception should not be general to a number of distinct enunciations, but specific.’ ‘While in one sense,’ says Mr. Bishop, ‘it is undoubtedly the duty of the judge to give instructions to the jury, covering the entire law of the case, as respects all the facts proved, or claimed by the respective counsel to be proved, still, if he omits something, and is not asked to [562]*562supply the defect, the party who remained voluntarily silent cannot complain.’ 1 Bishop, Cr. Pro. § 980; Dave vs State, 22 Ala. 23; Burns vs Commonwealth, 3 Metc. (Ky.) 13; Keech vs State, 15 Fla. 591; People vs Ah Wee, 48 Cal. 236; Mercer vs State, 17 Ga. 146; Mason vs People, 2 Col. 373; State vs Bogain, 12 La. Ann. 264; Commonwealth vs Costly, 118 Mass. 1; People vs Rodundo, 44 Cal. 538; State vs Scott, 12 La. Ann. 386; State vs O’Neal, 29 N. C. 251.” In Holt vs State, 47 Ark. 198, 1 S. W. 61, the court said: “One ground of appellant’s motion for a new trial is the' court did not properly instruct the jury. It appears from the bill of exceptions in this case that the court gave the jury instructions which are not copied in the transcript. To 'those given and copied in the transcript no exceptions were taken and no objections are urged against them here. ‘It is the province of the court to give in charge to the jury such principles of the’law as it may deem applicable to the case.’ If the defendant or plaintiff desires other instructions, he may ask them; but, if hé fails to do so, and remains voluntarily silent, he cannot complain.”

From an examination of the evidence it is evident the same was conflicting and contradictory; and it was therefore very properly submitted to the jury for. their determination, and the court will not disturb their findings. In Holt vs State, 47 Ark. 196, 1 S. W. 61, it is said: “It is urged, here that the verdict of the jury was contrary to the evidence. The testimony of the witnesses was conflicting and contradictory.

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Opinion No.
Arkansas Attorney General Reports, 1992

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Bluebook (online)
18 S.W. 349, 6 Indian Terr. 557, 1906 Indian Terr. LEXIS 35, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mickle-v-united-states-ctappindterr-1906.